Timeless Handmade Guitars

"Hey, Mark!  Great guitar.  And look at that, it looks just like me!"

(Rick is holding one of the 2 Hamer Vector 0152 replicas I made for him)

https://ricknielsen.com/

"What started out as just a random search for a cool top load tele bridge found by our good pal Mark Robertson has turned into quite an epic friendship.  We found Mark Grant just getting started fabricating these cool bent steel and welded  Tele bridges,  all you could get at the time was the Wilkinson dual load bridge made out of what we considered cheap “pot metal”.   After a quick email banter my Tele was rocking with a killer hand made dual load bridge that was far superior to what was on there.  Mark was just getting into some guitar building,  he had some old designs and some original designs as well.  It has been cool to watch him evolve as a builder as well as a player, producer, and most importantly a friend.  We are about the same age and have a similar musical background.  I currently own a Telifornia, a Retrograde Carved Top RHO (with reclaimed maple top from a 1939 Hammond BC organ), and a Calicaster with modern neck heel.  I also have another set of Strat pickups and a set of his PAF Zebra humbuckers.  His attention to detail, from the wood work to the finish is the stuff of legend.  This is not something that can be taught in a school,  anymore than someone can be taught to have good taste in fashion or music.  You just have it or you don’t.  Mark’s insistence to hand make as many of the parts and pieces in the old ways really sets his instruments apart from many of his contemporaries.  You won’t find CNC cut parts here.  Does this slow down production? Yes.  Does this limit the amount of guitars that can be produced at once?  Yes.  Does this make a better instrument?  Yeah it does.  Pick one up and play it.  You tell me.  I regard my instruments as tools to do my job.  They are not handled with kid gloves.  I play the crap out of them.  I would never trust a carpenter with a brand new shiny hammer,  or a mechanic whose toolbox didn’t smell like oil and gasoline.  These instruments inspire me to play them and be creative.  They don’t fight you, but allow you to connect to the music you want to create.  His instruments tip their hat in a big way to the instruments and processes of the past all the while giving you a  modern playing and feeling instrument.  These are some of the greatest instruments being produced at this time.   There are lots of “builders”, assemblers, and painters out there to choose from,  but there are not many of them who are doing it all.  Do yourself a favor and check out Mark Grant’s instruments,  you’ll be glad that you did."

https://swlamusicschool.wixsite.com/mysite

"If I had to describe my experience with Mark and the Mark Grant Telifornia he built for me it can be summed up by "Farm to Table".  Mark was able to bring his shop right to my doorstep by keeping me involved with every step of the build.  From sourcing the body wood to choosing the perfect piece of Brazilian Rosewood for the neck I was sent photos and mockups.   I learned more than I ever expected about woodworking and lutherie by listening to his masterful musings. The communication was beyond what I expected.  All the pieces and parts were hand selected to make the best version of an original pre-cbs instrument.  As simple as a T style guitar may be, absolutely no inch was overlooked.  I have owned vintage Fenders, Custom Shops and other high end guitars but this Telifornia is THE one.  I keep coming back to it day after day.  The guitar plays itself with the exceptional fret-work, done the old way, and the neck which continues to vibrate ferociously with every strum and pluck.  I am forever inspired to create music when I pick this guitar up.  I am forever grateful for the friendship that was created during this process. If you have an unwavering desire for quality and seek the best you can buy, look no further.  Mark Grant is your guy."

https://www.crossfitwoburn.com/

"When I originally reached out to Mark on a whim about building me a guitar (Calicaster named “Shirley”) in late 2021, I didn’t really know what to expect…

I had commissioned guitars with other builders before, and it was always a long / mysterious process: a few emails regarding price / specs, payment, a LONG wait (with way fewer to zero emails about status), then randomly out of nowhere being asked “it’s done. what kind of strings do you want?”

Ultimately what I got out of the process with Mark was a genuine friend.  He was excited to document and share the entire build process from wood selection to fret dressing with me (and a good bit with the world, too).  Going so far as to even ask what initials I wanted stamped on the string saddles of my Calicaster (I chose my mother’s initials).  We spoke quite often throughout the build (about guitars, cars, sneakers, whatever!) and still speak regularly to this day."

"Amazing work! The LP style guitars you did for me are my daily players, and they draw attention where ever I go. The Strat, that neck profile is simply the best I have ever played, thank you for doing a kick ass job!"

https://www.welagen.com/

“I first met Mark Grant through Eric Shoenberg, who was really excited about Mark’s work. Since (then) I’ve come to know Mark and his mastery extensively by working on some really unique acoustic and electric projects with him. Collaborating with Mark and playing his guitars has forever changed and upgraded my understanding and appreciation of what the journey of a personal relationship with a guitar can be. His meticulous attention to every historical, material and technical detail of the art of lutherie is truly inspiring and refreshing. Beyond that, Mark’s dedication to bringing everything he can to each piece he works on gives us something that can not be faked or bought at any price-he creates guitars with soul…”

http://www.tiburon-acupuncture.com/

"The Korina Jr Mark built for me is awesome! I’ve owned about five or six juniors and played a ton. This one hangs with the best of them and smokes most of them. I do love my 57 single cutaway. Its tone is fairly mid heavy and the bridge had to be replaced for radius and intonation purposes. Mark’s Jr build is way more full spectrum with sparkly highs and tight lows. The tone control, and volume control interaction is more pronounced and reactive than any junior I’ve ever laid my hands on. The weight, the sound, the tooling, the fret work, wood choice, everything turned out far beyond my wildest expectations. Mark always seems to hit it out of the park with scratch built guitars, but the junior is a total grand slam!  It feels and sounds like a vintage instrument and trust me I have pile of vintage guitars."